Hydraulically-actuated apparatus for expressing liquids from floor mops



Dec. 26, 1950 w. G. VAN VOORHIS ET AL 2,535,2

HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM FLOOR MOPS Filed June 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 u.. :1: 11: i kg w amen 1m William 617 5222 Vorizz's &

Alberf Jfleider awe/M Dec. 26, 1950 w. G. VAN VOORHIS ET AL 2,535,244

HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING' LIQUIDS FROM FLOOR MOPS Filed June 9, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 I. V 2;: i

William G: 7522? Finer/21's I Al'ber? JHCZACZEIP' Dec. 26, 1950 w. s. VAN voom-ns ETAL 2,535,244

HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM FLOOR MOPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1947 m'lliam G ,Vn 7507-1 24115 2:

Albert J Jleidar Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED APPARA- TUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM FLOOR MOPS William G. Van Voorhis and Albert J. Heider, Columbus, Ohio Claims.

The present invention relates to pressing devices for exerting pressure on various objects and substances through the employment of hydraulic means, and, more particularly, it deals with a device for exerting pressure on floor mops for the purpose of squeezing out of them soil-laden water with which such mops become filled while being used for cleaning purposes.

Mop presses or wringers, as heretofore constructed, have been objectionable in one or more of the following respects: they have required too much time in manual effort to operate them; they do not remove effectively and completely the dirty water with which floor mops become filled; there is a marked tendency to upset the tub or bucket on which such presses are usually mounted and, again, they are often insufficient in their pressing or wringing action, since their mechanical action is predicated on the use of mechanical advantages obtained through linkages, gearing, cams or rollers.

In order to overcome these and other objections or disadvantages present in mop presses of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a press which will require but a minimum of manual effort on the part of the operator thereof in obtaining efficient operation. In connection with the foregoing object, it will be realized that most of the users of such wringers are often elderly or infirm persons lacking in the physical strength required to operate the present clumsy and inefficient mechanical presses, and therefore it is an object of this invention to obtain a press in which positively applied high pressure forces may be set up with but small expenditure of physical energy.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mop press which will operate with high efficiency, converting as many as possible of the foot pounds of energy applied to it into the performance of useful work; to provide a mop press which is relatively simple in construction and easy to maintain in service; to provide a mop press which will be operated by foot pressure in obtaining high compression rather than by hand pressure, thereby reducing fatigue as well as avoiding any tendencies to overturn or tilt the tub assembly when the press is actuated; and to provide an efficient press which is capable of being economically manufactured.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mop press formed in accordance with the present inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view disclosing the perforated mop-receiving press cas ing and its associated arcuately swinging compressor follower;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

4 is a top plan view of the tub or receptacle having the mop-receiving casing and its fol lower shown in their operative positions on the top thereof;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the compressor follower;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the hydraulic mechanisms.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the valve devices forming a part of the hydraulic system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral it designates the base frame of our improved press; the frame being supported for movement across a floor surface by means of swiveled caster wheels, indicated at H. Arranged on the base frame I0 is one or more water-holding receptacles or tubs H, a single receptacle having been shown in the drawings, although it will be understood that any desired number of receptacles may be used; for example, the receptacle i2 may be used to receive dirtladen water, while another receptacle may be used to receive clear rinsing water. If desired, a single receptacle may be used, as disclosed, having a vertical partition i3 therein dividing the interior of the receptacle into a soiled watercontaining compartment I4 and a rinse waterreceiving compartment Hi.

The receptacle is formed with an open top, reinforced by a rolled flange l6. Secured to and positioned in the upper portion of the compartment i l of the receptacle is a mop-receiving casing H, which includes an arcuate bottom wall it, spaced vertically positioned side walls IS and a vertical back wall 25 These walls are perforated as at 2| for the passage of fluids therethrough. The side walls i 9 are riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the walls of the receptacle i2, as indicated at 22.

The side walls i9 have their upper edges toward the rear thereof formed with bearings 23 which receive a horizontally disposed rock shaft 24. The rock shaft has secured thereto intermediately of its ends, the inner end of a manually operated handle 25". Also, the rock shaft is of such length that one end thereof projects beyond one of the bearings 23, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

3 and to this projecting end of the rock shaft there is fastened a crank arm 2S, which is adapted to be actuated by hydraulic means hereinafter described.

Between the bearings 23, the rock shaft has secured thereto a mop compressor 2'6. This compressor preferably comprises a metallic cast ing formed to embody an arcuate wall 28 which is disposed in substantially concentric relation to the arcuate bottom wall it of the casing l'i'. Formed with the wall 28 is a web 29, the latter having formed centrally therein a recess for the reception of the lower end of the handle 3! of a janitors iioor mop when the yarn body 33 of the mop is positioned in the press chamber as shown in Fig. 2.

The compressor includes side walls 35 which at their upper rear corners include bearings 35 for the rock shaft 2 5. Pins or the like 3? may be employed in securing the compressor to the rock shaft for unitary movement. One of the bearings 1-38 is also formed with a sleeve 38 in which the inner end of the actuating handle 25 is positioned and secured.

It will be evident that when the yarn body of a mop is positioned. in the press chamber 34, as shown in Fig. l, and the rock shaft partially rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the web 2Q applies pressure to the end of the yarn body or the mop by reducing the eifective volume of the press chamber. This action crowds the yarn body of the mop toward the back wall 26 of the casing, compressing said body and forcing soil-laden water therefrom, which passes through the perforations 2! into the compar ment Hi of the tub or receptacle 52. It will be observed that the press casing is arranged at one side of the receptacle so that the rinsing compartment i will be available without obstruction.

To enable greater pressures to be applied to the yarn body or" a mop inserted in the press over those capable of being applied thereto by the operation of the arm and hand control afforded through the use of the handle 25, the present invention provides a hydraulic system, operated by foot pressure, to secure a highly eficient pressing action. This hydraulic system includes an oil or liquid reservoir 39, suitably mounted on a side of the receptacle E2 in a relatively elevated position. Fluid gravitates from the reservoir 3 through a pipe line 39, vhich extends to a cut-over valve casing M. This casing includes a longitudinally extending bore 32 in which is slidably mounted a cylindrical valve member t3, the bore t2 communicating with a bore M disposed at right angles to the bore 32. Under normal conditions, gravity flow of fluid from the reservoir 39 moves the valve member 43 to a position providing for the flow of oil or the like from the bore :32 into the bore 44. A pipe member i-5 connects the bore 34 with a check valve mechanism 438.

Mounted on the side of the receptacle 12 toward the bottom thereof is a pump comprising a cylinder all in which is slidably mounted a plunger or piston ea. One end of the cylinder A l is joined by means of a pipe ii-3 with the bore 42 of the valve casing ii. The plunger or piston includes a rod 59 which extends exteriorly of the cylinder 51, and at its outer end has a pivotal connection 5| with the upper end of a short crank arm 52 formed with a foot-actuated pedal 53. This pedal is pivotally mounted as at 5 3 in connection with a receptacle !2. A coil spring 55 has 4 its lower end connected with the pedal and its upper end with the receptacle so that the normal tendency of the spring is to elevate the outer end of the pedal so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the operator may, by applying foot pressure to the pedal, depress the latter against the resistance of the spring 55, thereby rocking the crank arm 52 to impart reciprocatory movement in a forward direction to the plunger or piston 48 or" the pump. This results in displacing liquid from the pump and advancing the same through the pipe 49 to the valve casing 4|. The pressure applied to the fluid by the pump slides the valve member 33 to a position obstructing gravity flow of fluid from the reservoir 39, thus enabling the iiuid displaced by the pump to pass through the valve casing d exiting by way of the bore 42, and passing through the pipe :15 to the check valve mechanism 4%.

Swiveled on the longer arm of the pedal 53 is a stud 56 having a transverse bore in which is slidably mounted a rod 57. The rod has fixed thereto a collar 53 which constitutes a seat for the upper end of a coil spring 59, the lower end of the spring being seated on the stud 55. The upper end or the rod '5? is pivotally secured as at 653 to a yoke provided on the lower end of a slidable rod 5i, which is carried by the casing member of the check valve mechanism 46. The upper end of the rod 55 is adapted to engage the lower end of a valve stem 62, the upper end of this stem carrying a valve head 63 which is adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with a valve seat E4.

Leading from the top of the casing of the valve mechanism is a pipe 65 which conducts the operating iiuid of the system to and from the lower end of a vertically positioned hydraulic ram 56. This ram includes a hollow cylinder 5%! in which is slidably mounted a piston 68, the pipe 55 entering the lower end of the cylinder El below the piston 68. The latter includes a rod which extends through a packing in the top of the ram cylinder and is pivotally connected as at 69 with the lower end of a link it, the upper end of said link being pivoted as at H to the crank arm 28 of the rock shaft 24.

Provided in the pipe 45 is a T-fitting l2 containing a check valve 13, and a pipe connection M leads from the fitting to the pipe line 39. By this arrangement, the pump is primed with fluid upon the return stroke of its piston. The piston 88 in the ram cylinder 6? is normally pressed downwardly by a spring 75. Air-bleed valves may be provided in the pump cylinder 6:? and in the pipe line connecting the check valve mechanism it with the ram cylinder, in order to release air when the system is being filled with fluid.

Operation When the yarn body of a mop is inserted into the press casing, the handle 25 is actuated to swing the compressor head 27 in a downward direction, the head being thus brought into contact with the mop and may apply an initial waterextruding pressure thereto. During this operation, the piston in the ram 65 moves upwardly, and fluid readily passes under gravity flow from the reservoir 39, through the cut-over valve ll, the check valve 43 to the lower part of the ram cylinder. To apply final pressure to the mop, the operator steps on the pedal 53, forcing it downwardly against the resistance of the spring 5.

This actuates the pump piston, forcing fluid from the pump cylinder and through the cross-over valve 41, the valve member it moving to a po:ition obstructing fluid flow to or from the reservoir 39. It will be noted that the valve member 43 prevents the passage of fluid straight through the bore 32 of the casing i-l, either from the reservoir 39 or from the pump l-l. In passing through the cross-over valve, the fluid is required to make a right angle turn.

When the pedal is depressed, the rods bl and 61' move downwardly, thus allowing the valve head 63 to move freely in response to fluid pressures applied thereto. l he pressure of the fluid expelled from the pump unseats the valve head and allows the fluid to pass by Way of the pipe 65 to the lower part of the ram 56, producing pressure on the under side of the ram piston 68 and partially rotating the rock shaft Ed to force the movable press head 2'! against the mop body to effectively and thoroughly remove therefrom soil-laden water. The foot pedal may then be released and the same allowed to return to its normal position under the action of the spring 55.

While the hydraulic mechanism has been shown as comprising a number of spaced cylinders or casings, it will be appreciated that these cylinders or casings may be embodied in one or more castings to simplify the construction and render the same more compact. Other variations or modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a press for expelling soil-laden water from the yarn body of a floor mop, a wheeled base, a liquid-receiving receptacle mounted on said base, a press arranged within and adjacent to the top of said receptacle for the reception of the yarn body of a floor mop, said press including a pivotally movable pressing head, a fluid pump supported externally of said receptacle, foot-actuated means for operating said pump, a hydraulic ram including a sliding plunger, means for transferring fluid under pressure from said pump to said ram, and motion transmitting means uniting said plunger with the movable head of said press for imparting pivotal movement thereto in response to the introduction of pressure fluid to said ram.

2. A press for wringing water from handle-ca ried mops comprising a receptacle; a press casing mounted in the top of said receptacle, said casing being formed with a perforate and arcuate bottom wall, spaced vertical side wall and an upstanding back Wall defining an open top chamber for the reception of a mop; a shaft rotatably carried between said side walls; a pressing head carried by said shaft for swinging movement into and out of the chamber of said casing, said head being formed with a uniformly arcuate wall which upon movement of said head within said chamber is disposed in spaced concentric relation to the arcuate bottom wall of said casing and a sottsd Web projecting outwardly from the arcuate wall of said head for engagement with the handleadjoining end of a mop upon swinging movement of said head into said chamber, the slotted web of said head when the latter occupies a position within said chamber being disposed in close-fitting relation to the side and bottom walls of said press casing; and means connected with said shaft for imparting swinging movement to said pressing head.

3. A press for wringing water from handle-carried mops comprising a receptacle; an open top perforate casing carried in the top of said re ceptacle and formed with a uniformly arcuate bottom wall, said casing providing an open top chamber for the reception of a handle-carried mop; a shaft extending transversely of said casing and journaled therein for axial rotation; a pressing, head secured to said shaft and movable upon rotation of the latter into and out of the chamber of said casing; said head comprising a uniformly arcuate and imperforate wall which uponmovement of said head within the chamberof saidcasing occupies a position in spaced concentric relation to the arcuate bottom wall of said casing and a slotted lip portion extending outwardly from one end of the imperforate wall for close-fitting engagement with the walls of said casing, the lip portion of said head upon movement of the latter within the chamber of said casing being engageable with the handleadjoining end of a mop received within the chamber to crowd the same into engagement with the walls of said casing and the arcuate wall of said head; and means connected with said shaft for imparting limited axial rotation thereto.

4. In a press for wringing water from handlecarried mops; a casing formed with a uniformly arcuate perforate bottom wall and defining an open top chamber for the reception of the yarn body of a handle-carried mop; a rock shaft journaled transversely of said casing; a pressing head connected with and extending radially outwardly from said shaft for swinging movement in an arcuate plane into and out of the chamber of said casing upon rotation of said shaft, said pressing head comprising a uniformly arcuate imperforate wall and a slotted lip extending outwardly from the imperforate wall in following relation thereto for engagement with the handleadjoining end of a'mop positioned in the chamber of said casing, the arcuate wall and lip of said head upon swinging movement of the latter into the chamber of said casing serving to substantially enclose the chamber and to decrease the effective volume thereof, whereby to squeeze a mop contained therein and express water therefrom; and fluid-pressure-actuated means connected with said shaft for imparting limited axial rotation thereto.

5. In a press for wringing water from handlecarried mops; a casing formed with a uniformly arcuate perforate bottom wall and defining an open top chamber for the reception of the yarn body of a handle-carried mop; a rock shaft journaled transversely of said casLng; a pressing head connected with and extending radially outwardly from said shaft for swinging movement in an arcuate plane into and out of the chamber of said casing upon rotation of said shaft, said pressing head comprising a uniformly arcuate im perforate wall and a slotted lip extending outwardly from the imperforate wall in following relation thereto for engagement with the handleadjoining end of a mop positioned in the chamber of said casing, the arcuate wall and lip of said head upon swinging movement of the latter into the chamber of said casing serving to substantially enclose the chamber and to decrease the effective volume thereof, whereby to squeeze a mop contained therein and express water therefrom; and fluid-pressure-actuated means connected with said shaft for imparting limited axial rotation thereto, said last-named means comprising a rocking lever connected with said shaft; a fluid motor having an extensible ram connected with said rocking lever; and foot-oper- 7 ated pump means for supplying pressure fluid to Number said motor. 484,688 WILLIAM G. VAN VOORHIS. 1,500,058 ALBERT J. HEIDER. 1,871,590 5 2,392,208 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number file of thls patent: 855,357

UNITED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date 66,639 Russell July 9, 1367 Name Date Sweetland Oct. 18, 1892 Courtemanche July 1, 1924 DAnnunzio Aug. 16, 1932 Wilken Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 12, 1940 

